■ Criminals now call the shots in this our area-Residents
BY TUNDE THOMAS
For three days running now, tension has been running high at Arepo, a sleepy community located along Lagos-Ibadan expressway. Since last Wednesday, residents in the community have been living in fear following a deadly pipeline explosion that shook the area.
The explosion, which claimed the lives of several vandals, has turned the joy of the community into sorrow.
Saturday Sun investigations revealed that apart from the raging inferno, residents now live in fear following harassment and intimidation by the vandals and their kingpins who are reported to be embittered by the heavy casualty their men suffered during the explosion.
According to a resident, who identified himself as Seni, many residents are tired of the reign of pipeline vandals operating in the area.
“Arepo has become a curse for us. The NNPC pipeline that passes through this community has become a serious burden and source of sorrow to Arepo residents. Since vandals started operating here few years ago, bursting NNPC pipelines and siphoning fuel, our lives have not remained the same. It is either we have explosion, or the vandals engaging security men in heavy gun battles that often last a whole day – we are always living in fear, we want President Buhari, and the Inspector-General of Police to come to our aid,” he declared.
Further investigations by Saturday Sun revealed that the latest explosion was partly made possible because the pipeline vandals are now having a field day following the unilateral withdrawal of Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC) militants that were recruited by the NNPC to secure the pipeline from attacks by the vandals.
It was learnt that the contract for securing the pipelines, which was awarded to the militants in the dying days of Jonathan’s administration, had been revoked by the NNPC. The militants, who were reported to have been peeved by the NNPC’s stance, were reported to have vowed not to return to secure the pipelines unless their salaries and allowances were paid.
To further compound the situation, the police, who were supposed to have been drafted to the site following militants’ withdrawal, are yet to be mobilized to the site.
Taking advantage of the lacuna, the vandals have totally taken over the pipelines, and calling the shots. They are also reported to be above the law as Arepo’s monarch, residents and even policemen from nearby Warewa, and Ibafo, have to take permission or secure a pass from the kingpins before they can venture anywhere near the creek where the vandals operate freely.
Lamenting the absence of security agents to patrol Arepo and surrounding creeks, residents lamented that they are now under the control of the vandals.
Last Thursday, Saturday Sun saw some of the people who were reported to be pipeline vandals carrying AK47 rifles in broad daylight around Beach land Estate and surrounding vicinity. Residents were seen discussing in hushed tones as the vandals patrolled the vicinity fully armed.
It was also learnt that on several occasions, some residents have had to relocate from Arepo whenever the pipeline vandals start their trouble. It was also gathered that the fear of the vandals is the beginning of wisdom in the community.
It was further learnt that with the easy money they were making from the illegal operation, the vandals and their kingpins have been able to win over some residents, including okada riders to their side. It is these people who are on their payroll that mix freely with other people to collect information about police or any other security agencies or individuals that want to infiltrate their rank.
It was further gathered that several residents that were alleged to be informants to the police or perceived to be obstructing their business have been killed in recent time.
At the palace of the traditional ruler of Arepo, Oba Atanda Oyebisi, the monarch was reported to have travelled to Abeokuta for security meeting with Governor Ibikunle Amosun.
However, efforts made to speak with any of the chiefs proved futile. From their countenance and body language, it was obvious that they were all afraid of talking about the vandals and their operation.
Going round the town, an elderly man later volunteered to speak without disclosing his full names. According to the man, who simply identified himself as Baba Ola, the entire residents of Arepo were tired, sad and angry.
Asked why they were angry, Baba Ola replied that the residents, especially the indigenes, were angry that the vandals have been giving bad name to Arepo town.
“Why won’t we be angry? These vandals have given Arepo a bad name. Nobody remembers Arepo for anything good again. When they mention Arepo, they refer to us as city of oil thieves, or village of bunkerers. We want President Buhari and the Inspector-General of Police to flush out these people – we are even angry that since the OPC and the militants left middle of June, police have not come here to take over security. If policemen are running away from the vandals, then what will be our fate?”, he asked rhetorically.
Baba Ola didn’t stop there, as he was speaking with the reporter, one of his friends joined him, and as our conversation continued, both of them started looking over their shoulders as if they are afraid of somebody seeing them talking to the reporter.
Still lamenting, he said: “The irony of it all is that the other side of the creek where vandalisation and oil scooping really take place is deeply located in Isawo, Ikorodu but because of the difficult terrains, many people prefer to access the pipeline site through Arepo. Isawo is where the vandalisation is taking place and not Arepo, people should stop mentioning Arepo or link us with the evils taking place in the creek.”
At Ibafo Police Station, policemen speaking on condition of anonymity, told Saturday Sun that the police have been cautious on confronting the vandals.
A sergeant said: “Look anybody going into that place is going into danger zone or lions’ den. We have lost a lot of officers and men to the vandals. Late last year, seven policemen were murdered in cold blood by the vandals. It is one of those reasons you didn’t see policemen or patrol vehicles near the place when you visited.”
Speaking on the incident, spokesman, National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA in South West, Mr Farinloye, told Saturday Sun that the agency has not been able to gain access to the site since Wednesday.
Lamenting the situation, he said: “Although we thank God that the fire went out yesterday, as I’m speaking with you, NEMA has not been able to gain access to the site, and, therefore, we can’t give an accurate casualty figure. Any figure given by anybody is mere speculation.”
Asked why it has been impossible for NEMA to access site, Farinloye said: “Do you want me to commit suicide? Anybody going there on his own without escort is walking into lions’ den. For us, we think about safety first, that is why we have always been advising those who want to go into the place on their own not to do so – you think of your life first – we can only go in there when security is guaranteed.”
The latest explosion was reportedly triggered by a spark from the engine of one of the speed boats being used by vandals to evacuate fuel siphoned or scooped from the pipelines. The fire continued to rage for almost 48 hours until the NNPC shut down product supply through the pipeline that passed through Arepo.